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And Then There Were 59....

Update your national park list, folks, for there are now 59, not 58, "national parks" in the National Park System.

That became the case Thursday when President Obama signed into law legislation that changed the name of Pinnacles National Monument to Pinnacles National Park.

The legislation was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., who in his push for the name change noted the unique geology and vegetation that can be found within the monument ... and also pointed out the "economic and tourism potential"... the new name will spur.

So what? Doesn't change the boundaries, the management, or the purpose. The silly names of the units of the National Park System are confusing. I am sure it will take no time for someone to claim the park was "elevated to national park satus." Nonsense. There is no hierachy and Congress said so in the Redwood Act and the General Authorities Act.